Mountpark Secures Key Planning Step for £1.5bn OxSRFI Investment

Mountpark’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application for OxSRFI, a proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange near Junction 10 of the M40 in Oxfordshire, has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

Gaps in rail‑served logistics

OxSRFI has been developed to respond to a well‑established shortage of rail‑connected logistics capacity along the M40 corridor. Its location enables it to support supply chains across Oxfordshire, London and the South East, the Midlands and the wider OxCam Corridor, reducing the need for long‑distance HGV movements and supporting more resilient, sustainable freight networks.

Once operational, OxSRFI would provide:

• 6.5 million sq ft of high‑quality, purpose‑built logistics space
• A new intermodal rail terminal enabling efficient transfer of goods between rail and road
• Modern infrastructure capable of supporting national and regional distribution requirements

By enabling more freight to move by rail, the scheme is designed to help reduce congestion, carbon emissions and pressure on the strategic road network.

Approach

From its earliest stages, OxSRFI has been shaped by a landscape‑led masterplanning strategy, ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded alongside operational and infrastructure requirements.

Approximately 60% of the site is dedicated to green and blue infrastructure, including woodland creation, biodiversity enhancement, sustainable drainage and long‑term habitat management. The scheme also incorporates commitments to:

• Target BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC A+ buildings
• On‑site renewable energy generation
• Extensive hedgerow and woodland planting

Significant investment in supporting infrastructure forms a central part of the proposals, including:

• Major upgrades to M40 Junction 10
• Improvements to local road connectivity and circulation
• New bypass and relief routes to benefit surrounding villages
• Enhanced provision for public transport, walking and cycling

Economic value

Independent analysis indicates that OxSRFI could deliver substantial economic benefits, including:

• £361.2 million per year contribution to the UK economy
• £21.9 million in annual business rates
• The creation of over 9,000 full time jobs

During the anticipated seven‑year construction period, the development is expected to support an average of around 790 jobs per year, contributing to skills, employment and supply chain opportunities across the region.

Planning and strategic land expertise

The acceptance of the OxSRFI application reflects Mountpark’s wider planning and strategic land capability, built through extensive experience in navigating complex policy, environmental and infrastructure frameworks.

Mountpark’s in‑house teams bring together expertise in NSIP‑scale consenting, strategic land promotion, infrastructure delivery and responsible development. This integrated approach allows Mountpark to unlock technically challenging sites and deliver long‑term, sustainable outcomes that align national infrastructure needs with local priorities.

OxSRFI is one example of Mountpark’s broader portfolio of logistics and infrastructure‑led developments across the UK and Europe, where complex site constraints, environmental considerations and multi‑agency coordination are central to project delivery.

Future steps

Following acceptance, OxSRFI will move into the formal examination phase during 2026, continuing to engage with statutory bodies, stakeholders and local communities.

A recommendation will then be made to the Secretary of State for Transport ahead of an anticipated decision in mid‑2027.